iBi - April 2012

In 1965, Peoria lost a historic landmark when its county courthouse was razed, but a treasure within the building was saved…and it’s heading back downtown this fall when the Peoria Riverfront Museum opens its doors.

In the era of smartphones, the watch is no longer an indispensable tool for telling time, but a prized fashion accessory—and another case study in the creative destruction brought about by a fast-moving global economy.

Peoria’s central location in the country, its riverfront advantage and its booming distilleries fueled the city’s hog and cattle stockyards. At the beginning of the 21st century, only a handful of these once-thriving businesses survive, including Peoria's—one of the oldest in the country.